Multi-unit evaporative cooling system for stratified thermal air conditioning

Abstract

The invention relates to a multi-unit air conditioning system that conditions ambient air below the wet bulb temperature without the use of a mechanical vapor compression system. The system includes two or more individual units. Each unit can include a heat exchanger and evaporative porous media. By varying output of one or more cooling units and controlling water circulation, the system can condition air to variable temperatures. The system can produce a stratified air flow, whereby layers or pockets of air with discernable dry bulb temperatures and/or humidity remain intact. This can improve efficiency of the system and thermal comfort.

1 . A system for stratified air conditioning comprising:
 a. two or more conditioning units; and   b. a heat transfer loop;   wherein each of the two of more conditioning units comprise an evaporative porous media unit, wherein at least one of the two of more conditioning units comprises a heat exchanger;   wherein the heat transfer loop connects the two of more conditioning units with a series of tubing so that water flows from an evaporative porous media unit of one conditioning unit to an evaporative porous media unit of one or more additional conditioning units;   wherein output of each conditioning unit can be adjusted; and   wherein the two or more conditioning units independently release conditioned air to form stratified layers directed towards a user.   
     
     
         2 . The system for stratified air conditioning of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer loop is comprised of one or more pumps, a water reservoir and one or more valves. 
     
     
         3 . The system for stratified air conditioning of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more conditioning units are further comprised of one or more variable speed fans. 
     
     
         4 . The system for stratified air conditioning of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more conditioning units are arranged vertically upon one another to form a single system. 
     
     
         5 . The system for stratified air conditioning of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more conditioning units are arranged horizontally with respect to one another to form a single system. 
     
     
         6 . The system for stratified air conditioning of  claim 1 , wherein a conditioning unit cools circulating water adiabatically before returning the circulating water to a reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein each of the two or more conditioning unit releases conditioned air based on user input.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The system for stratified air conditioning of  claim 7 , wherein each of the two or more conditioning units releases a conditioned layer of air based on user input. 
     
     
         13 . A method of stratified air conditioning comprising steps of:
 a. providing ambient air to two or more conditioning units, wherein each of the two of more conditioning units comprises an evaporative porous media unit, wherein at least one of the two of more conditioning units comprises a heat exchanger;   b. directing water flow to the two or more conditioning units through a heat transfer loop, wherein the heat transfer loop directs the flow of water from an evaporative porous media unit of a first conditioning unit to an evaporative porous media unit of one or more additional conditioning units;   c. conditioning the ambient air with a heat exchanger and/or evaporative porous media in each of the two or more conditioning units; and   d. adjusting the water flow and/or air flow to the conditioning units so that each releases a layer of air that is directed towards a user and is based on the user input to form a stratified flow of conditioned air.   
     
     
         14 . The method of stratified air conditioning of  claim 13 , wherein each of the two or more conditioning units is comprised of a sensible heat exchanger, an evaporative porous media unit and a variable-speed fan. 
     
     
         15 . The method of stratified air conditioning of  claim 13 , wherein the heat transfer loop is comprised of one or more pumps, water flow control valves, a water reservoir and pipes that connect the conditioning units. 
     
     
         16 . The method of stratified air conditioning of  claim 13 , including an additional step of directing water flow expelled from an evaporative porous media from a first conditioning unit toward an evaporative porous media of a second conditioning unit. 
     
     
         17 . The method of stratified air conditioning of  claim 13 , including an additional step of cooling water expelled from one or more heat exchangers adiabatically in a designated conditioning unit before returning it to a water reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The method of stratified air conditioning of  claim 13 , wherein a control module adjusts water flow through the heat transfer loop and/or air flow through each of the two or more conditioning units. 
     
     
         19 . The method of stratified air conditioning of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more conditioning units are arranged horizontally with one another to form a single system. 
     
     
         20 . The method of stratified air conditioning of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more conditioning units are arranged vertically with one another to form a single system. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for cooling an area with stratified layers of conditioned air comprising steps of:
 providing a system with two or more conditioning units, wherein each of the two of more conditioning units comprises an evaporative porous media unit, wherein at least one of the two of more conditioning units comprises a heat exchanger;   adjusting water flow through a heat transfer loop that connects the two or more conditioning units with a series of tubing, so that water flows from an evaporative porous media unit of one conditioning unit to an evaporative porous media unit of one or more additional conditioning units,   adjusting output of each conditioning unit by controlling water flow and/or air flow from one or more fans;   wherein the two or more conditioning units independently release conditioned air to form stratified layers that is directed towards a user.